Painting trim tabs

[DaleH]

Year 1: Tried the spray Primercon method ... s$#ked, more growth than doing nothing - darn expen$ive spray too !

Years 2-4: Did nothing but cleaned and polished them, then applied wax, plus routine cleanings while at the beach. Worked OK 'til Fall, toona season, when the waters were too cold to swim at a moment's notice. For some reason I got significantly more growth on the tabs in the Fall season than at any other time of year. Use? Or perhaps sunlight (lower in the sky) related?

This Year: Finally broke down and have applied the 3-step Pettit method:

[1] Acid etching primer for metal

[2] Rubber-based tie-coat primer (allows you to use any cuprous-based anti-fouling paint)

[3] Anti-fouling paint of choice (still went with Trilux 33, for use on SS or aluminum)

Two coats of each applied. Will let you know the results ... in late Oct !

Pettit's 3-step method:

 

[TRUE BLUE]

I just paint them with bottom paint (Micron). works fine.

 

[DaleH]

I just paint them with bottom paint (Micron). works fine.

For now ... you WILL get galvanic corrosion caused by the cuprous oxide in the bottom paint. Worse in some waters and since there already is a very high electrical activity in the river I am on ... to do like you did would make an already existing 'battery condition' even worse ...

I know some that do like you do ... and are 'OK' (for now) but seriously, when in doubt, check the water beforehand using a voltmeter and silver/silver chloride sensor off a multi-meter.

 

[TRUE BLUE]

Second year now, seems ok, no pitting. Its only a stainless plate anyway, should be easy to repair if anything started showing. I think the mussels and crap I used to get did more damage. Nice and clean now.

 

[pelagic2530]

I just paint them with bottom paint (Micron). works fine.

For now ... you WILL get galvanic corrosion caused by the cuprous oxide in the bottom paint. Worse in some waters and since there already is a very high electrical activity in the river I am on ... to do like you did would make an already existing 'battery condition' even worse ...

I know some that do like you do ... and are 'OK' (for now) but seriously, when in doubt, check the water beforehand using a voltmeter and silver/silver chloride sensor off a multi-meter.

uh-oh.... i just did the same thing. i have sacrificial zincs on my tabs though, would that maybe help?? :?

 

[nhr3]

I did the research, after reading Dale’s post, and took the plunge to paint my new tabs. As an interesting note the Tie Coat Primer cost $10 more a quart than the Parker Gel Coat I bought from my Parker Dealer. These paint guys are mixing up liquid gold. No regrets. NHR